Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Attitudes About Required Coverage of Mental Health Care in a U.S. National Sample
Donovan T Maust1, Michelle H Moniz1, Kara Zivin1
1All authors are with the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Maust, Dr. Zivin, and Dr. Kales are also with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Moniz is with the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, and Dr. Davis is with the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, all at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor. Send correspondence to Dr. Maust (e-mail: maustd@umich.edu ).
Objective:
Recent policy initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act have expanded coverage of mental health services. However, to what extent the public supports mandated insurance coverage of mental health care relative to other specific medical services is unclear.
Methods:
This report presents results of a cross-sectional, national poll of the U.S. adult population. Respondents (N=2,124) were asked whether health plans should be required to provide coverage for mental health care and other types of medical services. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of respondent characteristics with support for coverage.
Results:
Seventy-eight percent (95% confidence interval=75%-81%) of respondents supported mandated coverage of mental health care. This result was higher than support for birth control medications, equivalent to support for oral or dental care, and lower than support for all other medical services.
Conclusions:
True parity for mental health care may be limited if public support lags behind that for other medical services.
Related Concept Videos
Attitudes
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Surveys
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

